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Published: July 10th 2009
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Hokitika
Making my jade necklace Hokitika was the next town of any substance North of the glaciers and we stopped in to say hello, in the morning we went to a Jade factory for a free tour to see how they carved and shaped the Jade stone into Jewellery amongst other things, we didn't buy anything as it was all too expensive and Nibby had seen a flyer where you could carve you own Jade. We went to check it out and Nibby decided to make a Jade necklace, first off was the design... that took Nibby no time she already knew what she wanted, then came picking the stone again that took only minutes (I wish it was like this when we went shopping). Then it was into the carving. I made myself busy elsewhere while she got on and created. 4 hours later she emerged with one beautifully crafted Jade necklace that she will love forever. It's even got a secret carving on the back that no-one can see!
When Nibby had finished her masterpiece we went for a walk around Lake Mahinapua, before heading back to the beach to watch the sunset.
Next day we arrived in Punakaiki (the sharp readers will
Hokitika
First you have to smooth the edges... notice we stopped here briefly before) we found another bargain cabin for $40 about 15 pounds. We sat outside in the afternoon sun reading before going to watch a pretty cool sunset from the beach.
EASTER SUNDAY we went back to pancake rocks to see if the blow holes were working any better than last time but they weren't. So we decided to take a walk up the Fox River Track which led to a cool cave, Matty took in a candle but Nibby was not so silly taking her torch. It took about 50 minutes return to explore the 200m or so passage seeing lots of stalagmites and stalactites and some cave Weta. We stopped on the drive back to the cabin to watch the sunset from the cliff top, it was a cracker, but more interestingly we also saw a man collecting stuff from the rocks/beach. Curios as we were we waited until he returned to his car and asked him what he was up to and he showed us these HUGE muscles (hand span size) so off we ran to pick some before the fading light went completely and the incoming tide hid them again. We
Hokitika
Then the engraving... grabbed a bagful and had them as a starter before our Easter treat Rib-Eye steaks. Matty was not keen on the Muscles but Nibz woofed them down.
More rain on Easter Monday we went back to pancake rocks determined to see the blow holes working in full force they were better than we had seen them on any previous day but still pretty rubbish compared with how we know they should look. It was then back to the Cabin for reading and playing computer games, Matty went for a surf in the afternoon but was paranoid about seeing sharks so did not last long, at low tide we went back to pick more muscles for tomorrows dinner.
April 14th it has been 365 days since we left home originally, sometimes when I think about it, it seems a short while ago, but then you really have a think about it and work seems like a distant memory. Yes of course we miss friends and family but that's the only downside, the experience's we have had and are having really open your mind.
Anyway on with what we got up to - we drove..... well North of course.
Hokitika
Finally polishing... Stopping at a seal lookout only to be disappointed (we really got to see them close up on the Catlin Coast) but by chance on the other side of the bay we saw some surfers, we drove round to check it out and it looked good. 5-6ft and pretty clean and even more appealing a massive rip which was so strong Matty hardly had to paddle to get outback. He scored two fantastic waves. After each wave Matty had to ride it back into the beach and walk back to the rip to get back outback he just could not make the paddle. On one of these round trips Nibby surprised Matty as she had broke out the portable stove on the beach and had made steak and cheese sandwiches what a great girlfriend!!!! Matty went for two more loops after lunch but he had the best fun of the day already. We drove on in the afternoon reaching Karamea just before sun down, we walked straight to the beach to watch it, it was another good one!!!
Karamea was a great launching point to get to the Oparara Basin and after an hours drive on some very pot
Hokitika
and the final product! holed gravel road we arrived. First was a walk to a real impressive limestone cave/arch called Moria Gate we climbed right down inside it. It was strange to see Stalagmites under the arch where there was also plants growing, normally these are seen in pitch black caves only. Then we walked onto Mirror Tarn a big lake that acted like a mirror but the shadows were covering the entire lake so we cruised on to the main attraction the Oparara Arch which was an even bigger limestone arch this one around 200m long, 37m, wide and 50m high. After we came back to the cabin and Matty has just been writing this blog.
Until the next time!!!
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